CLOPAY GARAGE & ENTRY DOOR BLOG

The Myths and Realities of Energy Efficient Garage Doors and Entry Doors

Nov 14, 2011

A drafty, un-insulated garage door may not be an obvious culprit in rising monthly utility bills, but it's worth giving it a second look if you have an attached garage.

Garages are more susceptible to temperature fluctuations given how often the garage door is opened and closed every day. Since attached garages typically share one or two common walls with the house, any hot or cold that travels through the door will ultimately affect the adjacent living areas.

An insulated garage door can help stabilize temperatures in the garage to reduce heat loss or gain.

The same principle applies to your front door.

If you're thinking about upgrading to a more energy efficient model, stop making excuses.

Over the next several days we'll debunk the myths of exterior door energy efficiency so you can start realizing your true savings potential.

Reality: A new, energy efficient garage door can reduce energy loss through the garage by up to 71%.

Depending on the specifics of the home, a well insulated door can keep an unheated garage 10 to 20 degrees warmer on a cold winter day, according to a comparison study conducted by Clopay engineers. That can have a significant impact on the comfort of family rooms or bedrooms located above or next to the garage.

It's also important if items like refrigerators, washers and dryers or water heaters are located in the garage.

There are two different types of insulation used in garage doors: expanded polystyrene and polyurethane. The higher the R-value, or the lower the U-factor, the more energy efficient the insulation is. Doors constructed from both kinds are strong and durable.

Fiberglass entry doors are an increasingly popular alternative to wood doors that typically don't hold up to the damaging effects of weather and are not well insulated.

The polyurethane foam core provides five times the insulating value of a wood door, which can lower heating and cooling costs and improve the comfort of your home year round.

Fiberglass is low-maintenance and moisture-resistant, so it won't peel, shrink, rot, warp, or crack like wood. The doors are available in wood grains like Cherry, Mahogany and Oak, and can be painted or stained. The texture is so realistic it is difficult to tell it's not a natural material, even up close.

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